Delhi court lawyers observe strike over assault on advocate
Bar bars police entry into court premises, demands action
New Delhi: Lawyers at Delhi’s Rohini Courts are observing a complete strike today to protest the manhandling and physical assault of an advocate at a police station, while the Rohini Court Bar Association has barred police officials from entering the court premises.
The protest follows an alleged assault on Advocate Kamaldeep at Mahendra Park Police Station on September 29. The Bar Association has also alleged that instead of taking action against the police personnel involved, a case was subsequently registered against the lawyer.
The Bar Association’s executive committee had taken up the matter with the Joint Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) North-West district and Principal District and Sessions Judge, North-West district, besides holding discussions with senior police officials.
The association said assurances had been given by the DCP that strong and appropriate action would be taken against the police officials allegedly responsible for the incident.
However, the Bar alleged that a case was subsequently registered against Kamaldeep instead of action being taken against the concerned police personnel. It further alleged that senior police officials failed to inform the executive committee about the case despite their earlier assurances. The Bar described the development as an instance of police high-handedness and intimidation of a practising advocate and said it had undermined the trust placed by the legal fraternity in assurances given by senior police authorities.
The association also accused the Delhi Police and the DCP, North-West district, of misleading its executive committee and maintained that the dignity, safety and professional independence of advocates could not be compromised.
As part of today’s protest, the Bar Association has called for complete abstention from judicial work at the Rohini Courts. It has also resolved that no police official from any district will be permitted to enter the Rohini Court premises, including the Nayab Court, during the day.
